Rural Development Forum: Agrarian Reform and Beyond

September 18, 2025 | Novotel Manila

Held on September 18, 2025, at Novotel Manila, the Rural Development Forum: “Agrarian Reform and Beyond” brought together national government agencies, legislators, civil society organizations, and farmer leaders from across the country to discuss the future of agrarian reform and sustainable rural development. The activity, organized by PLCPD with We Effect and supported by the European Union, served as a vital platform to address the challenges of land tenure, agricultural productivity, and climate resilience in farming communities.

Key discussions centered on the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project, the provision of agricultural support services, and the urgent need for soil and water conservation. Participants highlighted the importance of ensuring that agrarian reform extends beyond land distribution by strengthening cooperatives, providing vital support and services to enhance land productivity, improving access to financing and post-harvest facilities, and institutionalizing farmer participation in policymaking.

Officials from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) reaffirmed their commitment to consider the forum’s key recommendations in policy planning and program implementation to ensure that reforms remain responsive to the needs of farmers and rural communities. These recommendations include holistic, farmer-centered approach that integrates agrarian reform, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth.

In closing, stakeholders called for a holistic, farmer-centered approach that integrates agrarian reform, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth. As highlighted by the forum partners, true rural transformation is rooted in nurturing both people and the planet, ensuring that the gains of agrarian reform lead to food security, resilient livelihoods, empowered communities, and asustainable future for generations to come.